musician (spirits who have conceived and perfected an Ideal through some other channel), transferring it to this, and escaping our conventional roads by pure ignorance of them; eh, Ugo? If you have no appetite, talk at least, Ugo! Intendant. Sir, I can submit no longer to this course of yours. First, you select the group of 70 which I formed one, next you thin it gradually, - always retaining me with your smile, and sc do you proceed till you have fairly got me alone with you between four stone walls. And now then? Let this farce, this chatter end now what is it you want with me? Monsignor. Ugo ! Intendant. From the instant you arrived, I felt your smile on me as you questioned me about this and the other article in those papers why your 80 brother should have given me this villa, that podere, and nod at the end meant, your what? Monsignor. Possibly that I wished for no loud talk here. If once you set me coughing, Ugo ! — Intendant. I have your brother's hand and seal to all I possess now ask me what for! what service I did him ask me! Monsignor. I would better not: I should rip up old disgraces, let out my poor brother's weaknesses. By the way, Maffeo of Forli (which, I 9c forgot to observe, is your true name), was the interdict ever taken off you, for robbing that church at Cesena ? Intendant. No, nor needs be for when I murdered your brother's friend, Pasquale, for him . . Monsignor. Ah, he employed you in that business, did he? Well, I must let you keep, as you say, this villa and that podere, for fear the world should find out my relations were of so indifferent a stamp? Maffeo, my family is the oldest in Messina, and 100 century after century have my progenitors gone on polluting themselves with every wickedness under heaven: my own father . . rest his soul! — I have, I know, a chapel to support that it may rest: my dear two dead brothers were, what you know tolerably well; I, the youngest, might have rivalled them in vice, if not in wealth: but from my boy. hood I came out from among them, and so am not partaker of their plagues. My glory springs from another source; or if from this, by contrast 110 only, — for I, the bishop, am the brother of your employers, Ugo. I hope to repair some of their wrong, however; so far as my brother's ill-gotten treasure reverts to me, I can stop the consequences of his crime and not one soldo shall escape me. Maffeo, the sword we quiet men spurn away, you shrewd knaves pick up and commit murders with; what opportunities the virtuous forego, the villanous seize. Because, to pleasure myself apart from other considerations, my food would be millet-cake, my dress I 20 sackcloth, and my couch straw, - am I therefore to let you, the offscouring of the earth, seduce the poor and ignorant by appropriating a pomp these will be sure to think lessens the abominations so unaccountably and exclusively associated with it? Must I let villas and poderi go to you, a murderer and thief, that you may beget by means of them other murderers and thieves? No if my cough would but allow me to speak! Intendant. What am I to expect? You are 130 going to punish me? Monsignor. Must punish you, Maffeo. I cannot afford to cast away a chance. I have whole centuries of sin to redeem, and only a month or two of life to do it in. How should I dare to say . . . Intendant. " 'Forgive us our trespasses "? Monsignor. My friend, it is because I avow myself a very worm, sinful beyond measure, that I reject a line of conduct you would applaud perhaps. Shall I proceed, as it were, a-pardoning? — I? 140 - who have no symptom of reason to assume that aught less than my strenuousest efforts will keep myself out of mortal sin, much less keep others out. No: I do trespass, but will not double that by allowing you to trespass. Intendant. And suppose the villas are not your brother's to give, nor yours to take? Oh, you are hasty enough just now! Monsignor. 1, 2 N° 3! —ay, can you read the substance of a letter, No 3, I have received 150 from Rome? It is precisely on the ground there mentioned, of the suspicion I have that a certain child of my late elder brother, who would have succeeded to his estates, was murdered in infancy by you, Maffeo, at the instigation of my late younger brother that the Pontiff enjoins on me not merely the bringing that Maffeo to condign punishment, but the taking all pains, as guardian of the infant's heritage for the Church, to recover it parcel by parcel, howsoever, whensoever, and wheresoever. 160 While you are now gnawing those fingers, the police are engaged in sealing up your papers, Maffeo, and the mere raising my voice brings my people from the next room to dispose of yourself. But I want you to confess quietly, and save me raising my voice. Why, man, do I not know the old story? The heir between the succeeding heir, and this heir's ruffianly instrument, and their complot's effect, and the life of fear and bribes and ominous smiling silence? Did you throttle or stab my brother's infant? 170 Come now! Intendant. So old a story, and tell it no better? When did such an instrument ever produce such an effect? Either the child smiles in his face; or, most likely, he is not fool enough to put himself in the employer's power so thoroughly: the child is always ready to produce as you say howsoever, wheresoever, and whensoever. Monsignor. Liar ! Intendant. Strike me? Ah, so might a ather 180 chastise! I shall sleep soundly to-night at least, though the gallows await me to-morrow; for what a life did I lead! Carlo f Cesena reminds me of his connivance, every time I pay his annuity; which happens commonly thrice a year. If I remonstrate, he will confess all to the good bishop - you! Monsignor. I see through the would you spoke truth for once. however seven times sifted. trick, caitiff! I All shall be sifted, Intendant. And how my absurd riches en- 190 cumbered me! I dared not lay claim to above half my possessions. Let me but once unbosom myself, glorify Heaven, and die ! Sir, you are no brutal dastardly idiot like your brother I frightened to death: let us understand one another. Sir, I will make away with her for the girl — here close at hand; not the stupid you obvious kind of killing; do not speak know nothing of her nor of me! I see her every day : saw her this morning of course there is to 200 be no killing; but at Rome the courtesans perish off every three years, and I can entice her thither have indeed begun operations already. There's a certain lusty blue-eyed florid-complexioned English knave, I and the Police employ occasionally. You assent, I perceive not say - no, that's not it assent I do but you will let me convert my present havings and holdings into cash, and give me time to cross the Alps? 'Tis but a little black-eyed pretty singing Felippa, gay silk-winding girl. I 210 have kept her out of harm's way up to this present; for I always intended to make your life a plague to you with her. 'Tis as well settled once and forever. Some women I have procured will pass Bluphocks, my handsome scoundrel, off for somebody; and once Pippa entangled! — you conceive? Through her singing? Is it a bargain? [From without is heard the voice of PIPPA, singing Overhead the tree-tops meet, Flowers and grass spring 'neath one's feet; For, what are the voices of birds Ay, and of beasts, - but words, our words, Only so much more sweet? The knowledge of that with my life begun. And counted your stars, the seven and one, Nay, I could all but understand 229 Wherefore through heaven the white moon ranges ; |